Daily servings of encouragement those w/ illness or pain, a program of Rest Ministries

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Longing for the Good Old Days When Chronically Ill

Despite the temptation to reflect and wish things were different, we need to keep these longings in check. Karen shares.

“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions” (Ecclesiastes 7:10).

“Those were the good ol’ days!”

You know what I’m talking about, the days similar to what you saw with Andy Griffith in Mayberry.
When everyone . . .

knew their neighbors
pop came in bottles
all stores were closed on Sundays
people dressed up when in public
milk was delivered to your front door
families sat together for a meal
we made homemade ice cream.

Did you know that the Bible talks about this type of reminiscing? Ecclesiastes 7:10 says “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.”

It’s fun to go back in time in our minds and ponder over special memories. I often go back to when I was a teenager with limitless energy. I like to remember how I felt when I would be able to attend school all day and then join the cheerleading squad to cheer for two consecutive basketball games without even getting tired.

It’s not so fun to be reminded that I currently struggle to run two consecutive errands without resting in between.

It’s not good to be stuck in our past. It’s not good for our mental health to lament our past in a way that keeps us from accepting the reality of our present condition.

We can’t go back in time, we can only move forward. God has brought us to this point for a purpose.

Even if we can’t see what it is, we need to come to the place where we accept our illness.

Accepting doesn’t mean that we don’t want to get better. It doesn’t mean we don’t do things in our power to get better.

Accepting where we are currently helps us focus on living in this moment. Acceptance helps bring some peace to our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to live in my past. Help me to accept my life as it is today. Help me to be what you want me to be with who I am today. Amen.

About the author:
Karen Weber has dealt with several autoimmune diseases for over 20 years. She has a passion for encouraging others with the hope of God through the path of illness. She has led a support group and has taught classes for the community on “Living Well with Chronic Illness.”

What are you special memories? Do you like to daydream about the days you felt “normal”? Do you ever get stuck there?